Abigail was nervous as Jack drove her to the hospital the morning of her operation. He held her hand tightly as they entered the hospital, and before she went back for the procedure, he gave her a big hug.

"I love you, Abby. I'll see you just as soon as I can."

"I love you too, Jack." Abigail clung to him as if she never wanted to let go.

Abigail stripped down to her underwear and put on a hospital gown. She lay on a table, and an IV was inserted into her hand. Soon she felt pleasantly drowsy.

From what seemed a distance, she heard a buzzing noise and was vaguely aware that a portion of her scalp was being shaved. A drilling noise combined with a sensation of pressure on the top of her head followed.

Through what seemed like a thick haze, Abigail heard the surgeon and his assistants talking, but she felt no emotion. Several times she thought she might have dozed off.

After awhile, she was aware of being wheeled into another room and transferred to another bed.

The next thing she was aware of was Jack's smiling face and his hand gently smoothing her hair back.

"Jack?" Her mouth was so dry that she could hardly get the word out.

"I'm right here, sweetheart." Jack held a straw to her lips, and she took a long sip of cold, refreshing water.

"Is it over?" she asked.

"It's all over, and you did just fine." Jack leaned over and kissed her forehead. "You're a real trooper, Abby."

"All I want to do is sleep," Abigail mumbled.

"Well, you're certainly entitled," Jack told her.

"Will you be here when I wake up?" asked Abigail.

"Of course I will!" Jack assured her.

Abigail didn't eat much lunch at all, and what she did eat, Jack had to spoon or finger-feed her. Several hours later, she was feeling much better and was able to eat a full dinner on her own. Jack was with her the entire time, not leaving until visiting hours were over.

"I have to go home now," he told her. "But I'll be here as soon as I can in the morning, I promise."

"I wish you didn't have to go." Abigail wrapped her arms around her husband's waist and buried her face in his belly. "I feel so safe when you're here." She knew that as soon as Jack left, the icy fear would return, and she felt her stomach twisting into knots just thinking about that.

"I wish I could stay too, sweetheart." Jack stroked her hair lovingly as he talked to her. "You're such a brave woman, Abby. You've overcome enormous obstacles to get to where you are now, and you're going to beat this, too. I know you will."

"I love you, Jack."

"I love you too, sweetheart." He kissed her face all over, very tenderly. "Go to sleep, now. Everything's going to be all right."

Abigail watched TV for several hours after Jack left, hoping that that would help take her mind off things. Finally she gave up and switched the set off and lay there in the silent dark, wide awake, with her fears looming over her, threatening to overpower her. What if she had brain cancer? What if it was untreatable? What if she had only a few more months, or even weeks, left to live? Jack would be left a widower, Jackson and Julie motherless. Who would take care of them? Beryl's advancing age was taking its toll on her, and Ellen had never shown much interest at all in her niece and nephew. Jack had no relatives living nearby. Dear God, what would happen to her babies if she didn't live to see them finish growing up?

Jack's heart was heavy as he drove back home. Poor Abigail had already been through so much, and she certainly didn't deserve this new development. His mind went back to the seventeen-year-old girl lying there in a coma as her life passed by her, the thirty-seven-year-old woman suddenly thrust into a world that was totally foreign to her. Her courage and tenacity at bouncing back from that ordeal had never ceased to amaze him. Abigail was everything Jack could ever have wanted in a wife and mother, and he loved her with all his heart. He couldn't bear the thought of losing her.

Wrapped up in his thoughts, Jack almost didn't notice the strange car parked beside the curb. As he walked toward the house, he was amazed to see a woman waiting for him on his front porch.

"Jack! Long time no see!" He didn't recognize her at first, but as soon as she spoke, he realized that she was none other than his first wife, Karen.